Man City face a summer they could do without - this is how they'll cope

The opportunity to be crowned the first World Champions of FIFA's new era of club competition should offset any concerns about the schedule for Manchester City - says club legend Sergio Aguero.

City are in the middle of an injury crisis with most of their squad playing an 11 month season last term, before returning for a 12-month campaign that will end with the new-look Club World Cup in the USA.

The Blues won the final edition of the old format in Saudi Arabia in 2023 to become the first club to hold the top three titles available to English clubs, plus the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. Now, they will set their sights on retaining their Club World Cup title when it expands to a 32-team tournament.

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City will travel to the US next summer to take on clubs from around the world who have qualified either through winning their continental tournaments or through ranking of past performances. Naturally, a team like City will go into the tournament as favourites, and they are expected to learn their opponents early next month at the tournament draw.

Previewing the tournament, City legend Aguero acknowledged player concerns over the ever-expanding schedule, but believes the chance of winning a tournament like the Club World Cup will be ample motivation to players once they are in the States.

"I believe that it won’t be a problem for the players, as they are used to competing in World Cups, Copa América, European Champions, Concacaf Gold Cups, whatever it may be," Aguero told Fifa. "They are prepared and they are used to